Ratchet wrench



March 14,1950 L w. LANG 2,500,835

' RATCHET WRENCH j Filed Fqb.' 17, 1947 /4 I y E/i.i.

/9 lo v 2 Patented Mar. 14, 1950 U NITE D STAT ES; PATENT GF F ICE,

RATCHET WRENCH John Lang, Racine, Wis.

Application. February' 17, 1947', Serial' No. 723,045,

(Cl. fil- 61) 3v Claims.'

This invention relates to improvements in ratchet' wrenches, and in particular to double ended box type ratchetl wrenches.

The conventional ratchet type of wrench is usually of relatively# complex construction, and the manufacture thereof entails a multiplicity of operations. In the case of those f'ew in which the design is relatively simple, the ratchet mecha-- nismthereof is often subject to rapid wear and frequently becomes inoperative due to failure of the spring therein or dueto failureof' the dog to' positively engage the rotating portion thereof. In certain double ended ratchet wrenches, a single spring actuates the dogs of the ratchet mechanisms on both ends thereof; A failure of this spring renders the mechanisms of bothv ends; of the wrench inoperative. In certain other ratchet wrenches coir springs are used. This type of spring has the undesirable feature of losing' its tensile qualities after a comparativelyl short period of use, thereby resulting in failure of the dog to properly function. Certain other ratchet wrenches employ a spring` which is susceptibleof displacement and, when suchy displacement occurs, the result is a failure of the ratchetV mechanism.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a ratchet wrench which isjsimpl'e in design', and which can be fabricatedI with a minimum of manufacturing operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench having a ratchet mechanism so constructed that the dogtherein is actuated into.v

positive engagement with the rotating portion thereof, said mechanism being so arranged'and constructed that. it.- is relatively foolproof.

A further object of the invention is to provide aid'ouble. ended ratchet wrench having embodied in the mechanism, at each end thereof, an individual flat.y spring.

A further more specific object of the invention is to provide a ratchet wrench embodying a flat spring which is so constructed and' disposed as to prevent its' displacement. n

A further object of thel invention is to provide a ratchet wrench wherein the elongated top and bottom plates are held in properly spaced condition by a spacer bar, said bar having end recesses shaped to receive and position portions of the band springs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described, wherein pins or rivets which connect the top and bottom plates are located adjacent the inner ends of the recesses in the spacer bar to not only maintain said barV in proper assembled position, but:v also to cooperate with: the recesses in the bar in main.- tainin-gthe springs in properly assembled posi tion.

`Vif-ith the above and other' objects inview., the invention consists of the improved 'rato-het. wrench, and all its parts and combinations, as. Set vforth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In theA accompanyingdrawings illustrating' one com-plete embodiment of the7 preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference nui merals. designate the same parts` in all of thel views:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewV of' the improved' wrench;

Fig.' 2 is a side View' of the improved wrench.;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the wrenchi having the upper side member removed, and before the upper ends ofthepinsare peened over; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken. along the-line 4-N of Fig; 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is an uppery sid'e member or elongated plate 5, and a lower sid'e member or elongated plate '6.

' The upper side member 5 is formed with an enlarged portion 1*" at one end and with a similarly? enlarged portion 8 at the opposite end. The lower side member'. 6 is formed with an enlarged por-- tion l" at one end and a similarlyV enlargedVV portionA 8^ at, the opposite end'. Disposed between the4 members 5 and 6' is a spacer bar 9, havingV a V-notch IU at each end thereof; The 1 apex of each Venotch IIl. is preferably rounded as at. I'I.

The enlarged portions T ofthe member 5.' and the enlarged portions 1." of they member 6 contain. identical apertures I2; and I2 respectively.- The. enlarged portion 8 of the member k51 and the enlarged` portionjs of the member 6j contain identical apertures I3' and' [3. respectively. Rotatably supported. in the apertures I'2r and 125!" is` a sleeve |4', and similarly 'disposed in apertures |`3 and [3' is a sleeve |5; The interiors It. of the. sleeves, |34 and I5 are preferably formed'. with. what is known as a twelve point construction as is commonly used in box wrenches and socket wrenches. The sleeves I4 and I5 are preferably of diiierent sizes so that the interiors I6 of the respective sleeves I4 and I5 accommodate different sizes of fittings. The sleeves I4 and I5 are each formed with a peripheral shoulder I1 midway between the ends thereof. The shoulders I1 are disposed between those portions of the member 5 which surround the apertures I2 and I3, and .-between those portions of the member 6 are J-shaped band springs '25 and 26.

` formed by relatively inexperienced labor. pins orrivets I9 and 2B t at the apexes of the which surround the apertures I2 and I3'. The

periphery of each shoulder II is formed with spaced transverse ratchet notches I8 preferably having an angularity of approximately 90 between the faces thereof.

Extending transversely between the members tudinal axis of the members 5 and 6 and the heads of said pins are formed as rivet heads.

Also dis-- posed on the longitudinal axis of the members and f6, and riveting the members 5 and 6 together are pins 2| and 22. Pivotally mounted on the pins 2| and 22 are dogs 23 and 213 respectively. forming to the shape of the V-notches I9 and extending around the'pins I9 and'Z respectively The extending portions of the springs 25 and 26 coact with the inwardly projecting portions of the dogs l 23 and 24 an-d force the outwardly projecting portions of the dogs 23 and 24 into engagement with the ratchet notches I8 of the sleeves Ill and I 5.

It is apparent from the above description land drawing that the sleeves I4 and I5 will rotate in onlyone direction, each of the dog-s 23 and 24 being forced into positive engagement with one of the notches I8 Whenever rotation is stopped. TheA Wise in Fig. 3).

The improved wrench is simple in design, the

component parts thereof being easily formed and quickly assembled. The springs used are sus- `-ceptible of neither fatigue nor displacement, but

if for some reason one of the springs should fail,

` the mechanism at the opposite end of the wrench remains entirely operative. The wrench is sturdy of construction, and well adapted to the purposes for which designed. It may be used with either sideup, depending upon which direction of rotation is desired.

yIt is also apparent that the assembly of the improved wrench is very simple and can be per- The V- r'ecesses I0 and serve not only to connect the top and bottom plates 5 and but also to secure the spacer bar in proper assembled position. In addition, these pins coact with the rounded the double ended type, nevertheless, other fea-V tures have utility in single ended wrenches and it is therefore contemplated that the invention apply towrenches of the latter type wherever it is suitable.

Con-

Various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, 4and all of such changes are contemplated, as may come within the scope of the claims. Y

What I claim is:

1. In a double-ended ratchet wrench having an independent ratchet mechanism at each end thereof, having a bottom plate, and having a top plate, a spacer member between said top and bottom plates and having each end formed with aMV-shaped recess adjacent one of said ratchet mechanisms; and a transverse pin extending between said plates and disposed within and adjacent the apex of each of said V-shaped recesses to hold said spacer bar in assembled position, each of said independent ratchet mechanisms including avflat ratchet dog actuating spring having a reversely bent end fitting around the adjacent pin and within the adjacent V-shaped recess and conforming to the surfaces of said pin and said V-shaped recess in 4.contact therewith whereby said spring is held in operative position in said recess by said pin.

2. In a double-ended ratchet Wrench having an independent ratchet mechanism at each end thereof, having a bottom plate, and having a top plate, aV spacer bar' between said top and bottom plates and having each end formed with a V- shaped recess adjacent one of said ratchet mechanisms; and a transverse pin disposedwithin and adjacent the apex of each of said V-shaped re cesses, said pins extending through said plates and maintaining the plates and spacer bar in assembled condition, each of said ratchet mechanisms including a flat ratchet dog actuating spring held in operative position within one of said recesses by one of said pins.

3. In a double-ended ratchet wrench having an independent ratchet mechanism at each end thereof, having a bottom plate, and having a top plate, a spacer member between said'top and bottom plates and having each end formed with a V-shaped recess; and a transverse pin disposed. within and adjacent the apex of each of said V-v shaped recesses and extending through said plates and maintaining the wrench in assembled condition, each of said independent ratchet mechanism including a flat ratchet dog actuating spring having a reversely bent end fitting around the adjacent pin and within the adjacent V- shaped recess and conforming to the surfaces of said pin and said V-shaped recess in contact therewith. f

JOHN W. LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UN'ITED STATES PATENTS 

